I never want to be the older mom who discourages the younger mom, but neither do I want to be the mom who paints such an unrealistic picture of family life, that no one can relate to me. If you're a mom who is going through a hard season of parenting teens, you are not alone. Today I lay out the truth about parenting teens–the bad and the beautiful.  Also, Happy New Year, and thank you for being here. 

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance

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Merry Christmas! It’s time for another edition of “What I Learned Last Year.” Circa 2016. This list is especially fun because I give my first hint that I will start a podcast and mention writing a Bible study on balance which later became my first book! This list covers everything from goal-setting and TV binges to monitoring teens on the internet and caffeine intake. This is Chapter 46: What I Learned Last Year, Vol 2, Listen in.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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Reflecting on two of the most exhausting years of parenting, two things stood out to me—two things that others did that gave me new energy. If you know a tired mom, I’m sharing two simple ways you can help her feel alive again. This is Chapter 45: Be a Life-Giver to a Tired Mom. Listen in.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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If I could retitle this essay, I’d name it: "For the Mom Who Idolizes Productivity." Or maybe, "For the Mom Who Keeps Raising the Bar." Because while it’s true this is an essay about a time I sent my kids back-to-school and had a meltdown, the bigger truth is that it’s a time I gave myself a pep talk about silencing my evil inner critic.  This is Chapter 44: For the Mom on the Verge of a Back-to-School Meltdown. Listen in.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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I wrote this essay after talking with a friend who was at a doctor’s office and witnessed a teen openly disrespecting his mom. My friend was outraged that the mom said nothing in response and was expecting my approval. Instead, I sided with that mom. This is Chapter 43: Dear Mom of the Mouthy Teen: an Open Letter. Listen in.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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Who knew that the decisions I made in 2015 would still be affecting me so profoundly now in 2025? As we approach the end of the year, I hope this list inspires you to make some decisions of your own that stand the test of time.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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Of all the essays I’ve written in this book, I think this is the one I’ve personally shared the most often with my personal friends. It’s hard-fought wisdom from the toughest years of parenting on record. This is Chapter 41: Six Strategies for Staying Calm When Your Teen is Freaking Out. Listen in.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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Some people struggle to offer apologies. But I have the opposite problem: I apologize too often. That isn’t a humble brag, like, “I don’t know why, but I’m just soooo generous. I just loooooove giving away my money and my time to people." No. Apologizing too often for the wrong things is messed up. In this essay, I explain why.  Listen in.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance

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Making decisions as a parent can be tricky. Often, we lack all the facts–either because our child is withholding them or because the child doesn’t have them either. Thankfully, God has all the facts, and He gives us His Holy Spirit to guide and direct us—in the form of a gut feeling. That’s what I’m talking about today. Listen in.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

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I grew up in the 70s and 80s where I never learned about sexual purity. Then, I started parenting in the late 90s on the tail end of the Purity Movement. Neither of those approaches worked well for me as a mom. Today I share what did.

I’m launching The Abide Sessions—a weekly, premium spiritual formation membership for women craving depth, clarity, and a steady rhythm with Christ. Weekly Zoom. A full Bible study. Community. Peace. Want to abide more deeply this year? Learn More Here. We'd love to have you. 

Purchase Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance

Website: The Scoop on Balance